As of: May 10, 2024 9:57 a.m
Pampas grass, buddleia, tree of heaven: Exotic plants often look pretty, but some crowd out native species. Some of these neophytes are even banned in the EU. Which ones don’t belong in the garden?
Exotic plants often bloom beautifully or are real eye-catchers in the garden with their attractive foliage. Most of these so-called neophytes are completely unproblematic. However, a few endanger the local flora: they are invasive and spread outside the gardens in the wild. There they crowd out native plants. They usually offer neither food nor shelter to wild animals.
Lupine, mahonia, vinegar tree: Better to avoid them
The invasive neophytes include well-known garden plants such as Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium), vinegar tree (Rhus typhina) or the multi-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus), according to gardener Peter Rasch. He recommends avoiding these types entirely. “The seeds are carried from the gardens, then the plants spread to dry meadows, railway embankments or forest edges and suppress the native plants.”
Cherry laurel spreads in forests
Because of its evergreen leaves and dense growth, cherry laurel is particularly popular as a hedge plant.
This also applies to the cherry laurel, which is popular as a hedge plant and is botanically correctly called laurel cherry (Prunus laurocerasus). The seeds find their way into nature via illegally dumped garden waste and birds that have eaten the berries. Cherry laurel has already spread massively in some forests. Since the evergreen shrub grows very densely, it takes away the light from other plants such as wild garlic or wood anemone. Further disadvantages: The plant is poisonous, the leaves are difficult to compost and pruning in the garden is laborious as it should be done with hand hedge trimmers. As a hiding place and source of food for some animals, the cherry laurel is still more ecologically valuable than the forsythia or rhododendron shrubs, which are also neophytes, according to NABU’s assessment.
Buddleia could crowd out native plants
The butterfly bush or buddleia (Buddleja davidii), which attracts many butterflies with its beautiful flower spikes, is also problematic. Its seeds spread into the wild via the wind and remain germinable in the soil for up to 40 years. Native species could lose out to the robust plant. According to NABU, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that the nectar of the buddleia literally addicts insects and makes them easy prey for other animals. To prevent the seeds from spreading, you can remove the inflorescences immediately after flowering.
Switzerland plans to ban the sale and import of cherry laurel and buddleia from September. However, they are still permitted in the European Union.
Neophytes like the tree of heaven: banned in the EU
The tree of heaven originally comes from China and no longer only grows in parks and gardens, but also on roadsides and in the wild.
However, the EU has already put numerous neophytes on a list of invasive species and banned them. The listed plants may not, among other things, be imported, traded, bred or released into the environment. Popular garden plants such as the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) are also included. The fast-growing deciduous tree with feathery leaves is very robust, drought-resistant and spreads rapidly. All of this makes it serious competition for many native species.
Pampas and Pennisetum Grass: Certain subspecies prohibited
Not all varieties of pennisetum are banned in the EU. If you want to be sure, you should pay attention to the Latin name.
The Andean pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata) and the African pennisetum grass (Pennisetum setaceum) are not yet found in the wild, but are also banned in the EU. Important: The ban only applies to these subspecies. For example, the pampas grass subspecies with the Latin name Cortaderia selloana are still permitted, as is the pennisetum grass Pennisetum alopecuroides. The reddish pennisetum varieties Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” or “Fireworks” are also not subject to the EU ban. When buying, it is therefore important to pay attention to the Latin names of the plants.
Balsam and giant hogweed are already widespread
The Indian balsam provides food for insects with its nectar, but it spreads particularly strongly in bank areas
The glandular balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), also known as Indian balsam, can be easily recognized by its striking pink flowers. The plant has already established itself in the wild and can often be found along watercourses. In order to prevent further spread, at least in your own garden, it is best to pull it out before it blooms.
Also on the EU’s banned list: giant hogweed. The sap of the plant, which can grow up to three meters high, can cause skin injuries that resemble burns. If you want to remove the plant, you should definitely wear protective clothing.
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation has published a document with detailed descriptions of the banned species. There you will also find information on how best to remove the respective plants, for example by digging up or mowing.
How to deal with neophytes in the garden?
For plant species commonly found in gardens but on the EU list of invasive species, EU countries are instructed to develop and implement “appropriate management measures”. The Federal Environment Ministry has already drawn up an action plan and wants to raise awareness of the issue among garden owners through educational campaigns. Garden centers must gradually reduce their commercial stocks; transitional regulations apply. So no one is currently forced to remove the affected plants from their garden. If you still decide to do so, you should not dispose of the plant parts in the compost, but in a closed bag in the residual waste.
Under no circumstances may garden waste be disposed of in the open air – this regulation applies not only to neophytes, but to all garden waste. Violations result in a fine.
Further information
Non-native species must be combated if they threaten the native ecosystem. more
The Nature Conservation Association is fighting against the spread of the plant in Schleswig-Holstein – now with new methods. more
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Quickly through the garden | May 13, 2024 | 9:00 p.m